A/N: Sorry about this taking so long. My only excuse is I had to do a book report for work and I hate book reports! At least this time I didn't have the threat of being grounded hanging over my head. Hopefully I'll be able to get another out over the weekend. Of course if there's a sudden warming trend in Nebraska and Iowa I'll have to take time out to build an ark, the last time there was even close to this much snow on the ground was 1960.

Thanks Chris for the Beta!

Mac's Office

0805 hours

03/12/2004

I unlock my office and head for my desk. Staff Call isn't until 0830 and I really need the time. Harm and Sturgis are still in the Netherlands defending the SECNAV, so everything at home has fallen on me. I love having a family but sometimes all the changes are a bit overwhelming.

"Hey, Mac."

I sit up with a start.

"Harm! When did you get back?"

"About an hour ago. We came straight here to report in."

"How did it go?"

"The case or reporting in?"

"Both." I chuckle.

"Well we won the case and the Admiral gave us the day off to get over the jet lag. So, I think things went well."

"Sounds like it."

"I thought I'd head home and take a nap. Anything you need me to do?"

"Not really. I should be here in the office all day except for lunch."

"What's going on at lunch, Mac?"

"I'm having lunch with Mattie's dad. He wants to see her but she's fighting it. We're going to try and work something out."

"What time are you supposed to meet?"

"He's supposed to meet me here at 1300 hours. Why?"

"Should I join you?"

"Sure. Actually I think that would be a really good idea Harm."

"You do?"

"Well, yeah don't you think we should present a united front on this? I mean I'm not going to force Mattie to move back with her dad, but I do think it would be good for her to work on her relationship with him. Not to mention the fact that you're Mattie's guardian."

"Agreed. I'll be back about 1245. Okay?"

"Okay. See you later." Harm turns to leave.

"Hey Harm?" You can do this marine. Don't back down now.

"Yeah, Mac."

"I missed you." He tilts his head and just looks at me for a second before smiling. He must be exhausted. His smile isn't up to its usual wattage.

"Missed you too." He continues on his way out of the bullpen and I start to get ready for staff call.

Harm and Mac's house

1730 hours

03/12/2004

"We're home." I call as I stop by the door to take Jimmy and AJ out of their winter gear.

"Here Mac, let me help."

"Thanks, Mattie. Where's Harm?"

"He's in the kitchen making dinner."

"Did I hear my name?"

"Uncle Harm!"

"Hey buddy, how are you?" Harm picks AJ up and gives him a hug.

"Okay, we missed you."

"I missed you too buddy. Why don't you and Jimmy go play for a little while? Mac and I need to talk to Mattie."

"Okay!" AJ heads for the family room with Jimmy crawling after him. Jimmy's got very good speed when he crawls and has no problem keeping up with his older brother.

"Uh-oh. What's wrong guys?"

"Nothing's wrong Mattie. Mac and I had lunch with your dad today and wanted to talk to you about it."

"I'm not going to go live with him." Mattie's standing with her hands on her hips looking the part of the rebellious teenager.

"Hey, relax. We didn't say anything about you going to live with him did we?" I calmly tell her. "Let's go into the kitchen, okay?" I lead the way and Harm and Mattie follow without question.

"So what did he want?"

"I'm going to assume by he you mean your father." Harm starts taking salad fixings out of the fridge trying to keep things as calm as possible while we talk.

"If that's what you want to call him. Personally, I think that title should be earned and he hasn't earned it."

"Okay fair enough. Help me with the salad, Mattie."

Mattie starts tearing lettuce. You can tell she's angry by the way she's tearing the lettuce. I decide to step into the conversation.

"Mattie, he knows you're mad at him and he knows that he's earned your anger. He just wants a chance."

"He doesn't deserve one!"

Harm starts to open his mouth but I shake my head trying to tell him to let me take this one.

"He might not deserve the chance but you do."

"Huh?"

"Mattie, you're so angry at him and you need to let that go. I'm speaking from personal experience. It isn't healthy to hold onto all the anger. You only see one side of your father. There is more to him and seeing those other sides will help to let go of the anger. Don't work on your relationship for him, do it for you."

"I'll try but I don't want to live with him."

Harm's chopping veggies for the salad and he looks up in shock. I don't think he can believe his ears.

"That's fine and he understands that." I tell her.

"He does?" Now Mattie's the one that looks shocked.

"Yes, he does." Harm verifies what I just told her.

"Okay, so what's the plan?" She looks at both of us.

"He's going to come over tomorrow for dinner." I tell her.

"And next weekend he's going to go out to the hangar with you and me." Harm supplies.

"Really?"

"Well, yeah. It's time for another flying lesson isn't it?"

"He's going to come along. He never went near the planes."

Mattie's looking at the both of us like we're nuts to even suggest her dad would want to go near an airfield.

"Well Harm told him you were a natural and how important flying was to you. I suggested it might be a good way to spend time with you."

Mattie just looks at us for a minute.

"Mattie?"

"Yeah, Harm."

"Are those plans okay with you?"

"I guess so."

"Good."

At that point my stomach growls. Mattie looks at Harm and then laughs.

"Harm I think we need to feed her."

Harm chuckles.

"I think you're right. Why don't you go get the boys and Mac and I will get the food dished up?"

"Okay."

Harm waits until Mattie's left the room before he turns to me.

"Mac?"

"Yes."

"Good job with her."

"Thanks but I think it was a team effort."

"Well, we always have made a good team."

With that said, Harm takes the salad to the kitchen table while I'm left to think about that fact that through everything we still make a good team.